Debt dispute leaves Missouri man in limbo in China

The Chinese government forced Steve Fleischli of Labadie, Mo., to surrender his passport in a dispute over his company's unpaid debt to Chinese firms. Complicating matters is that he has lost his job since going to China on business in January.

Many of the details of the case, including exactly why Fleischli was fired from his job, are unclear. But Fleischli's story offers insight into the perils of a westerner doing business in China, especially when commercial disputes are involved.

The State Department declined to comment on his case. But its website says there's little it can do to intervene in such situations.